Cathedral College

On our way back from Tregaron Conservancy, we walked passed the Cathedral College, which we have seen numerous time. But, today, the beauty of the building struck me, and we stopped to take photos of it like we haven't before. 

Flower Mart 2016

Our last one! :(

And it was a rainy one!

Friday, when we went, it rained so hard, we just saw the flower displays, got some used books, got food, and then headed home.

They did flower displays from different countries this time, in the Cathedral - the embassies did a great job. New Zealand was my favourite! 

 New Zealand did a Bonsai Hobbiton! Love!

Japanese Embassy Flower Display

The performances too, were from different countries. We saw the Indian ones from Taal academy (in Tenley Town) with kids and adults, the Davison Duo (a brother-sister, 15 and 18 yrs old respectively, band performing pop rock. They were excellent!!) and Nepalese performances. Then Shally, Indi, and Sathvik came, so we stepped away from the performances and hung out with them. 

Taal Academy Kids

Taal Academy Adults

Davison Duo

We had to check out the Bonsais, Saurabh's favourite before we said our goodbyes. 

Fruiting Orange Bonsai!

GITMO Stone at the National Cathedral

During the picnic, I needed to visit the restroom at the National Cathedral. I am pretty certain this is the first time I've gone to the restrooms there. Everything was new. Anyway, on the way there I saw this "GITMO" stone. There is so much history and connections in all of the cathedral. I love it! 

"In 1965, the officers and men of the naval base donated the gray, rectangular stone to the cathedral, which was then under construction. The gift was in appreciation for a visit in July 1964 from the dean of the cathedral, the Rev. Francis B. Sayre Jr.

Sayre served as a Navy chaplain during World War II so he might have had a soft spot for sailors and Marines serving far from home. Of course, back then, Guantanamo Bay didn't have the unfortunate associations it does now, and those five letters wouldn't have seemed quite so jarring in that sacred setting.

The commemorative GITMO stone is just one of many in the neo-gothic-style Episcopal cathedral." - John Kelly

Indoor Picnic at the Cathedral

Settled into our picnic spot :)

 On the last day of "Seeing Deeper", there was a picnic at the National Cathedral, DC's only indoor picnic. We took all the food! Smoke salmon, mini cucumbers, chicken kababs, toast, cream cheese, blood orange san pellegrino, clementines, and smoked gouda.

Our Picnic

Delicieux

Once we had settled in, and everyone was well into their meals, the GW Troubadours, a co-ed acapella group from GWU performed. They were excellent!

GW Troubadours at the far end, performing. Washingtonians, picnicking.

A couple next to us had the coolest picnic table. Several people stopped to compliment and ask them about it, photographers asked to take photos of the couple with their table. They found the table at a garage sale! The legs screw off, the slats roll up and the support beams detach for easy storage.

Coolest Picnic Table

Light Show at the National Cathedral

The colours kept changing

As part of "Seeing Deeper", an annual event at the National Cathedral, where, for a week they clear out all the chairs in the nave and give visitors a unique experience, we went to see the Light Show. 

"By removing thousands of chairs, the Cathedral looks a lot like it would have during medieval times. The openness and grandeur of the empty nave allows visitors to find their own paths for creative expression and spiritual freedom."

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We were completely awestruck when we walked into the cathedral and saw all the arches lit. It was breathtaking, silent, and meditative. Just, simply, transporting. 

I loved the leaves on the ceiling arches

The labyrinth was laid out. We followed the path listening to the wonderfully talented harpist playing. Silent, and immersed in our thoughts, we sat in the center of the labyrinth and paused all the negativity that was occurring outside the doors of the cathedral. This event couldn't have come at a better time. 

Labyrinth

Here, she is playing the flute. She also played the harp. She was mellifluous

After the labyrinth, we went back to the nave and sat on the floor, immersing ourselves in the beauty and music that filled the arches. 

First Snow of the Year!

Finally snow! And, so pretty! We walked out of Pansaari and were treated with a white DC. 

Dupont Circle

Bikes and Snow make a Captivating Image

But, in preparation of the blizzard coming this weekend, they didn't salt the roads! It was a complete mess! So many accidents, it was crazy. The uber home had to reroute so many times because of road conditions (slipping) and traffic. Eventually, when we were close enough we just got off and walked home, and told the driver to head home safely.

Traffic Accidents in the DC area

Tromping Home

Once near home, the cathedral was lit up almost in a welcome home :)

Lit Cathedral

We did try to go to CVS to get milk, but we were kidding ourselves. I mean after a washout at the Dupont Whole Foods and Giant, what did we expect? Ah, DC!

CVS. Milk

Chapels in the Crypt of the National Cathedral

Nave

When you visit the National Cathedral, you step in, the nave just blows you away. The arches, the numerous stain glass windows and the carvings just absorb you. All these are reason enough to visit the Cathedral. 

If you didn't visit the Cathedral at leisure, you may miss the crypt level. The entrance to it lies on the North side of the alter. At the crypt level there are 4 beautiful chapels. 

Stairs leading down to the Crypt

Bethlehem Chapel

Bethlehem Chapel

It is the first part of the National Cathedral and is built over the foundation stone. This one has beautiful carvings. 

Chapel of St. Joseph of Arimathea

Chapel of St. Joseph of Arimathea

This chapel has a mural that depicts Jesus' burial scene, including St. Joseph, who, according to the crucifixion story, donated for Jesus a tomb he had bought for his own body. 

The floor is slightly lower than the rest of the crypt level, symbolizing the low point of Jesus' life. 

Resurrection Chapel

Resurrection Chapel

Resurrection Chapel Wall

Mosaics adorn the dome of the chapel's apse and the walls. 

The Good Shepherd Chapel

The Chapel of Good Shepherd

As I have written before, this is my favourite chapel. It's small, easy to miss, and just lovely!

Confederate Battle Flag at the National Cathedral

There are 2 stain glass windows in the Nave that bear the Confederate Battle Flag. 

These windows were installed in 1953, to honor the lives and legacies of Confederate Generals Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee. The windows were installed, in part, because its leadership at the time hoped they would foster healing between parts of the nation that had been divided by the Civil War. Because it is the "national" cathedral, it sought to depict American history in a way that promoted reconciliation. 

On June 25, 2015, Dean Hall, the Cathedral Dean, said that it was time to take those windows out. "Here, in 2015, we know that celebrating the lives of these two men, and the flag under which they fought, promotes neither healing nor reconciliation, especially for our African-American sisters and brothers."

On June 2, 2015, he went on to say, "There simply is no excuse for the nation's most visible church to display a symbol of racism, slavery, and oppression. None."

Dean Hall has called the Cathedral's governing bodies to remove these windows, and to initiate a process to discern what design for the stain glass windows could adequately represent the history of race, slavery, and division in America

I love that the Cathedral has taken such a firm and strong stance on this.

Pentagon Cross at the National Cathedral

This cross was made by Alvin Neider from fragments of the facade of the Pentagon after the attacks of 11 September 2001

The United States Army Chief of Chaplans presented this cross to the Washington National Cathedral to recognize that Americans are united in memory, freedom, faith, and in the hope of and love for God, America, and all peoples of the earth.